Liquid cooling and dispensing system



Aug. 29, 1961 c. A. CLEMENTS 2,998,164

LIQUID COOLING AND DIsPENsING SYSTEM Filed June 4, 1958 United States Patent O 2,998,164 LIQUID COOLING AND DISPENSING SYSTEM Charles A. Clements, 679 Island Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Filed June 4, 1958, Ser. No. 759,884l 14 Claims. (Cl. 222-146) This invention relates to liquid dispensing systems, and has particular reference to novel methods and apparatus for cooling and dispensing liquids. The preferred ernbodiment of the invention is particularly adapted to create cooling to achieve speedy segregated successive pourings of like volume without waste, of charged, and uncharged or still beverages, such as beer and cola drinks, de-frozen fruit juices and the like, dispensed at a bar or counter.

It is well-known that temperature is a highly important factor in successfully dispensing a charged or carbonated beverage. In order to keep the carbonio gases in solution, the beverage must be maintained under suitable pressure, dependent upon its temperature. The higher the temperature the higher the pressure needed to be applied, and the more diflicult it is to control during dispensing which takes place at atmospheric pressure. The higher the temperature the greater the kinetic energy of the gas within the liquid attempting to escape, and the more foam formed, often spilling over the edge of the receptacle into which the ybeer is being poured, to create waste. Such conditions tend to reduce the speed at which separate drinks may be served economically.

In ordinary dispensing systems there is an open duct circuit all the way from the beer in the barrel, or other sealed container, under pressure to the shut-off dispensing tap, where ambient temperature often is considerably higher than that of the liquid while resting in the barrel, making tendency to uncontrollable foaming inherent. When the source of liquid is in a basement, additional pressure to that needed to hold the carbonio gas in solution has to be applied to overcome the forces of gravity and of weight, and to lift the beverage to the dispensing tap. Under optimum conditions the liquid should be subjected to a colder temperature and while under pressure, immediately before emerging from the dispensing tap, to slow the kinetic energy of the gases, normally increased proportional to the extent of pressure drop.

It will be apparent therefore that for the most economical and effective dispensation of draught beer, automatic means to control the drop in temperature of the beverage and of the pressure ,to atmosphere immediately before dispensing should be provided in order to eliminate waste and to deliver a maximum quantity of taste-appealing gases into the glass with a measured volume of liquid, at fastest possible speed without uncontrollable foaming.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a cooling, measuring and liquid `dispensing system that insures dispensation at customer-preferred temperatures of healthful and palatable beverages at all times, exactly as intended by the individual beverage manufacturer, and in the case of draught beer, with the desired head of foam of iine and homogeneous texture; 'and dispensed from apparatus that requires a minimum of maintenance and such that it can be handled by current employees.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus whereby any pressure needed to retain the carbonio gas in solution can be applied without fear of affecting accuracy or causing waste in dispensing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid cooling and dispensing system which measures exact quantities to be dispensed in continued segregated pour- Patented Aug.- 29, 1961 ICC l ings, in a manner that overflow waste is eliminated, and each customer receives the same treatment, that is, a fixed amount of beverage for a standard purchase price 'as prevails at the premises; with the apparatus so made andl assembled that the controlling measuring instrumentation cannot be tampered with without detection, thereby assuring to the operator of the premises and to each of the employees that a proper accounting of income becomes automatic, to the benelit of all.

According to the invention there is provided'in a liquid` cooling and dispensing system, a pair of separate cylinders each having a piston defining an upper chamber andv a lower air chamber, a source-0f pressurized liquid to bel dispensed, coupling means between said pistons whereby one is moved in one direction by the movement of the other in an opposite direction, air ingress-egress meansV opening into the lower chambers, and means including a valve cyclically operable to admit the pressurized liquid Y to lill the upper chamber of one cylinder as a unit part of said source; cut off the pressurized liquid in said chamber from the source of supply; open such iilled chamber to atmospheric pressure; introduce pressurized liquid into the other cylinder to dispense the de-pressurized liquid from such rstii1led upper chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide a 'liquid' dispensing and cooling apparatus wherein the instrumenA talities Ito control measurement are inherent in the properl functioning of the device itself, and do not in anyway rely on mechanized parts that can get out of adjustmentor be subject to wear and abuse from inexperienced personnel, the volume of liquid dispensed being solely regu- Y- lated by a measured amount of a hydraulic uid introY ducedinto a closed circuit, such fluid being actuated in a fixed and constant contact relationship between ltwo like'-h sized pistons, moving back and forth for an equal travel distance, and motivated solely from one source,namely,V the pressurized liquid to be dispensed.

Another important object of the invention is to pro^ vide a liquid cooling and dispensing apparatus wherein a first piston reciprocable in a first cylinder forms two closed chambers, enlarging one to receive a measured amount of the liquid under applied pressure as an integral pant of the source of supply, and contracting the other', av iirst chamber containing air, said chambers being alternately expandable and contractible; said iirst piston operating in spaced relationship with va second piston reciprocable in a second cylinder, to form two expandable and contractible chambers, one being a second chamber .Y containing air and the other a closed chamber housing a hydraulic uid; a conduit from said closed chamber for passage of hydraulic jluid to another chamber containing a third piston, reciprocable in a third cylinder, to' form two chambers, the other of which `contains air, each expandable and contractible, said third piston being in spaced relationship with a fourth piston reciprocable in a fourth cylinder to form two closed chambers, exfpandable and contractible, one a fourth chamber containing air and theother, liquid to be dispensed. A further object is to provide a cooling and dispensing japvy paratus wherein a by-pass -tube connects said rst and fourth air chambers, wherein is situated an enlarged por- A tion to form a reservoir, to receive' condensate and air ejected from said first and fourth air chambers, `said reservoirA to consist of two main body'sections, one a sealing cover or cap made of a metal such as aluminum, rapidly conductive of heat, designed preferably to have. protruding integral metal extensions outwardly from- Y maximum rate of heat transfer, the other section to corif sist of a bowl preferably'made of a translucent plastic, said reservoir to contain a valve to act as a coclgE and also to introduce air at atmospheric pressure, when needed vto break excessive vacuum temporarily, motivated by manual or other control; said reservoir having a fill plug, so that a refrigerant, such as alcohol, may be added separately, `it required for additional cooling within the system circuit.

A further object is to provide a liquid cooling and dispensing apparatus wherein a form of damper to piston contact, such as a shallow boss, is made part of the upper wall vof the beverage measuring chambers, and preferably through which the beverage enters the chamber and in the preferred operation also leaves the chamber. The engagement of the piston with the boss closes the port.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a cooling and dispensing apparatus wherein a valve preferably with four-'way connections and having two channels therein is made to dispense carbonated beverages without waste by having the bores of said channels of dilferent sized cross section, and to be so positioned, constructed and operated as to automatically perform in sequence several separate and distinct functions, in the course of one movement of the handle actuated manually, by electronic impulse or otherwise, to wit: allow unrestricted passage of the pressurized liquid in the barrel or other container along an ingress passage-Way, to expand and -fill the measuring chambers, detach the illed measuring chamber from the source of supply, reduce the pressure within the measuring chamber to atmosphere without moving the liquid, provide an egress passageway of larger cross-section bore than the ingress passageway, and means for the liquid to be dispensed therethrough from the chamber and out of a tap into a glass or other receptacle, incorporated with a twowway valve action to reverse the cycle, to again pour an equal quantity of liquid, said valve optionally being connected to a counting instrument to record the number of such operations.

A further object is to provide a cooling and liquid dispensing apparatus wherein the cooling and dispensing instrumentalities are operated housed within a plastic cowling or similar insulating cover.

FIGURE 1 shows a diagrammatic view of the preferred form o f apparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a View in section of the discharge control valve of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

IThe cooling system of the present invention is shown as applied to, and forming part of a manually-controlled device for dispensing beverage from a pressurized tank or barrel 1 located in a basement or other relatively distant point from dispensing tap 26,V supported by metal scaffold 70 V(a part of metal support plate 25) atop and secured to bar or counter 9 by bolts 34. When dispensing carbonated beverages, barrel 1 is preferably maintained under pressure by compressed carbon dioxide gas although, of course, any other gas allowed by law may be used. As shown in FIGURE 1, the carbon dioxide gas is'passed from tank 56 into the upper part of barrel 1, to apply `surface pressure on the liquid therein; the pressure being regulated by pressure regulator 57 in the length of tube 58:. A shut-olf valve 59 is provided so that tank 56 and/or barrel 1 may be replaced as necessary.

The actual dispensing control device, shown in FIG- URE 2, is a manually-operable valve 23, connected at inlet port 45 to tube 7 which, in turn, is connected, as by coupling 5, to tube 4 leading from barrel 1. A three-way or shut-off valve 2 is interposed in the length of the tube 4.

'I'he operable dispensing mechanism is shown in FIG- URE V1. vIt comprises a pair of duplicated metal cylinders 38, fitted into bases 11 preferably made of inert hard plastic, secured Vby v'bolts 12 to plate 25, supported by counter 9, -and a pair of Vduplicated metal cylinders 14, removably attached to the bases 11 by screw thread or otherwise attached collars 13. Metal extension covers 6 of cylinders 38 contain ports 43; similar covers 21 seal the upper ends of cylinders 14 and contain ports 28. vIn the preferred operation, cylinders 38 extend below counter 9.

Slidable in each of the cylinders 38 is a piston 8, dening upper chambers 39 and lower chambers 42. The pistons 8 are connected by means lof rods 19 .to pistons 20 slidable in the cylinders 14, -deiining upper chambers 30 and lower chambers 18,. The bore of cylinder 38 is narrower than that of cylinder 14. The chambers 39 and 18 constitute four air chambers. `The chambers 42 are iilled with a hydraulic fluid, preferably an odorless, tasteless, low-viscosity synthetic oil. The chambers 42 are connected by a conduit 44. A valve 16, of any conventional design, controls the speed of flow Vof the fluid through conduit `44, valve 16 (securely fixed to scaffold 70 by removable attachments, not shown) has passage therethrough set to be horizontal, and is placed half way along the length of 7conduit 44.

Rods 19, preferably made of highly-polished stainless steel, are cut out to have smooth ball-shaped surfaces at each end. Pistons 8 and 20` have companion-shaped recesses 61 into which the rod 19 ends 41 Iand 32 lit, held in place by screw-threaded collars 40 and 31 respectively. In assembly, rod ends 41 are first secured to pistons 8, so that pistons 8 `can move freely thereon. This piston assembly is inserted in cylinders 38 as s hown in FIGURE 1. Rods i19, extending youtwardly from cylinders 38, are inserted centrally through bases 11, to engage O or similar type circular sealing rings 36 held in place by plugs 35 threaded to bases 11. Bases 11 are threaded to cylinders 38 at insert 71. This assembly as then put in a position inverted to that shown in FIGURE l. Rods 19 are each pulled outwardly to fullest extent. Hydraulic fluid is then introduced through ports 43 to fully till chambers 42. Connection of the conduit 44 ends is made at ports 43. One of the rods 19 is then gradually pushed inwardly to expel air through the opened bleed valve 17, until continuous hydraulic fluid only flows therefrom. Valve 17 is closed when a pre-calculated graduated measuring rod (not shown) abutting plug 35 and placed parallel to rod 19, registers the length needed for'the volume required. That is, with one chamber 42 being full to maximum with hydraulic iluid, the amount of hydraulic uid used to iill the adjusted size of companion chamber 42 determines the amount of liquid that can enter chambers 30 and thereby serves to register the 'amount of beverage to be dispensed at the time pistons 20 engage bosses 29. Bleed valve 17 can Ibe used as an auxiliary hydraulic uid fill intake for use when needed to adjust the volume of iiuid in the closed hydraulic circuit.

The complete hydraulic unit described, returned to its operating position as shown in FIGURE I1, secured by bolts 12 to plate 25 and conduit 44 attached at valve 16 to scaffold 70, is lowered into a pre-cut contoured hole made in counter 9; positioned by lbolts 34. O or similar type seal rings 33 are inserted into the bases 11. Upper cylinders 14, with covers 21 sealed thereto, after pistons 20 are attached to rods 19, Iarelowered over `bases 1 1 past the rings 33 and secured by collars 13 to plate 25, after cylinders 14 with conduits 27 and 22 attached to ports 28, have `been moved around sealing 'rings 33, to iind the -best positions -for adjustment to contact ports 46 and 47 respectively. The bosses 29 are preferably slightly offcenter, to facilitate such adjustment, and to place an olfcenter pressure on pistons 20 as chambers 30 are being filled, so that pistons 30 tend to move slightly, to center themselves freely within cylinders 14 and move with a minimum of resistance.

After pressure regulator 57 has been set to release from tank 56 the estimated total pressure needed to be applied to the surface of the liquid in the 4barrel 1, to keep the carbonic gas in solution and establish lith handle 50 of valve k23 is placed in position illustrated in FIGURE 2. Shut-olf valve 2 is opened to allow flow of beer from barrel 11, along tube 4 into tube 7; with bleed valve 24 held in an open position, so trapped air and foam may pass therethrough, to be closed, as a solid column of beer becomes visible.

Valve 23 comprises a housing 55 and core 52. This core 52, preferably made of inert and non-adhesive plastic, such as known by the trade name Tellon, is rotated through 90 by manually-operated handle 50. The core is formed with two separate passage-ways, 53 and 54. In the shut-olf position, `as shown in FIGURE 2, the passageway 53 is out of register with inlet port 45. When handle 50 is turned to one extreme position, as at 49, the beer ilows under pressure to ll passage-way 53 and conduit 27 to port 28, to move piston 20 and piston 8 downwardly in the left-hand cylinder assembly, as a unit; thereby causing hydraulic iluid to be transferred to move duplicated piston `8 upwardly until piston 20 contacts boss 29 in the right-hand synchronized unit movement. In 'the other extreme position 51 of handle 50, a reverse movement of the co-ordinated pistons will take place; the beer passing through passage-way 53 to conduit 22 and into right-hand chamber 30, thereby to evacuate beer through conduit 27 `and passage-way 54 of core 52 of valve 23 and out of tap 26.

As shown in 'FIGURE 2, the cross section bore size of passage-way 53 is smaller than that of passage-way 54. This constitutes an invention necessary to the proper function of this device, where beer or other carbonated beverage is to be dispensed without waste.

When contact is had between inlet port 45 and either end of passage-way 53, beer will enter to form one of the chambers 30 and dispense an equal volume out of the other chamber 30. However, before either end of conduit 53 can establish contact with inlet port 45, the larger opening of passage-way 54 will already have established contact with atmosphere through tap 26 opening, thereby to drop the beer pressure to that of atmosphere. This serves to start a line pin-point bubble formation in thebeer-and without foaming-Gust as would be seen to take place if a bottle of beer had been held in a vise, andthe cap had been removed without any other agitation of the beer). In my invention, the beer only becomes agitated as it leaves the tap 26, to enter the glass or other 'serving receptacle, thereby to form a controlled head of foam, made up of like-sized small globules of escaping carbonic gas coated with malt, an ingredient of beer', to form the much desired and sought after ne appetite-appealing solid head of long-lasting foam.

Warm beer has to be poured at a slower rate than does colder beer, owing to the increased kinetic energy of the carbonic gas in the beer trying to escape to atmosphere. In my device this control is accomplished by inserting a conventional valve 16, preferably of the needle type, in conduit 44, the adjustment of which is made easily handy for the operator.

For the cooling and dispensing `apparatus to function as herein, chambers 18 have egress air passageways 15 which contact one-way valves 15A pointing outwardly from bases 1'1. Located in bases 11, in the illustrated embodiment, are auxiliary drain cocks 60 and in passage- Ways 15 are ports 63 that connect with duct 64. Air passage-ways 37 open into air chambers 39; said air passageways 37 being located to face towards each other, so that air exhausted from chambers 39 during the dispensing cycle will continuously blow as a jet stream over reservoir cover 69, to draw heat therefrom. In operation, as chamber 18 is first being contracted, pressure is increased to above atmosphere, which causes one-way valves 15A to open. Centrally linterposed in duct 64 is reservoir 65. Reservoir 65, (supported by frame 72 attached to plate 25 by inner bolts 12) is comprised of two main parts, a bowl 68 and a cover 69. Bowl 68 contains a valve 66, which acts both as a drain cock and a vacuum relief valve normally held closed by a spring 67. Cover 69 contains a lill plug 62. Spring 67 holds ball 73 against seat 75 in valve 66, which contains port 74 to provide ingress-egress means between bowl 68 and the outside atmosphere, when required. Spring 67 will be compressed when ball 73 is unseated by excessive pressure dilerential between that of the outside atmosphere and the partial vacuum in bowl 68. Manually applied pressure against ball 73, implemented from the outside of bowl 68 makes valve 66 function as a drain cock.

The partial vacuum developed cyclically within the air chambers 18, as pistons 20 rise alternately, causes Vaporization of the microscopic lms of beer left on the walls of cylinder 14 as dispensation therefrom takes place, thus withdrawing heat continuously, and tending to cool and keep cool the incoming beer, and lowering the kinetic energy of the carbonic gas therein prior to exposure of the beer to atmospheric pressure at which it has to be dispensed; so that the beer may be poured under control and without danger of excessive foaming and the waste created when economic speed of deli-very is otherwise attempted. Beer varies in its content, but most beers, such as of the Pilsener type, contain about water, from 3 to 12% alcohol and about 21/2 volumes of carbonic gas in solution, both the latter having low boiling points. Thus on the action when the downward movement of piston 20 compresses chamber 18, heat is generated, and warmed air and condensate containing water, alcohol and carbonic gas in solution are forced into reservoir 65, there to expand and give off'heat into outside space through the highly-conductive metal cover 69. 'Ihis cooled air is sucked into the companion chamber 18, as it expands. The cycle is then reversed. To help retain cold, a cowling 10 is provided to insulate and enclose the instrumentalities above the counter 9, and is secured thereto by bolts 34. A similar type of cowling, suspended at bolts 34, may optionally be placed below counter 9, to embrace the remaining instrumentalities, down to yjust above coupling 5.

As optional equipment, valve 2 may be a three-way valve to open and close the flow of beer under pressure from tube 4 into the tube 7 and, alternately, to shut off the beer and, through tube 3, connect the device to a source of water directly from the main or at a reduced pressure, to flow through the equipment, exactly as had the beer, for cleaning at any time desired. For periodic inspection and cleaning, the cowling 10i is removed, the plastic conduits 22 and 27 are disconnected at ports 28, and the cylinders are lifted oif pistons 20 after collars 13 have been separated from bases 11. This in no way disturbs the lower hydraulic unit and the automatic control operation through valve 23.

My device basically operates as two well-defined separate but inter-related fully-co-ordinated units. One unit encloses a continuous body of pressunized liquid, being that in tank or barrel 1, valve 2, tube 4, tube 7 and, alternately conduits 22 and 27, through passage-way 53 and to one of the chambers 30. Under Pascals law in any such enclosed body of liquid, irrespective of contour or shape, a pressure exerted at one end or on any area is transmited undiminished throughout the entire volume of the liquid and at night angles to all surfaces. Thus, as the pressure applied to the surface of the beer in barrel 1 displaces liquid from it to iill chamber 30, ready to be dispensed; as the circuit is sealed and the pressure throughout is the same, it makes chamber 30 hydrostatically an integral part of barrel 1.

When valve 23 is turned by handle 50, cyclically, chamber 30i is cut olf as part of barrel 1; the beer therein is automatically depressurized; is lifted by pressure exerted in barrel 1 as the other chamber 30 is formed as a part of barrel 1, to be dispensed out of tap 26. This movement comprises the second unit operation, being the passage of the beer as chamber 30 contracts, along conduits 27 or 22, through passage-way 54 to port 48 and tap 26, all of which are of like cross-sectional bore, with smooth inner surfaces, and made to conform with any governmental directives.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that my invention provides .a novel liquid cooling, measuring and dispensing system wherein palatable and healthful beverages are dispensed at all times, and without the economic waste inherent to the operation, particularly where the beverage is a carbonated one located in a basement barrel storage point, or otherwise at some distance fro-m the dispensing tap positioned at a bar. In addition, the apparatus insures that any predetermined volume of beverage will be automatically and repetitively served without delay under manual control all activated from one source, namely the pressure that has to be applied to the surface of the liquid housed in the barrel or other container.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a liquid cooling and dispensing system, a pair of separate cylinders each having a piston defining an upper chamber and a lower air chamber, a source of pressurized liquid to be dispensed, coupling means between said pistons whereby one is moved in one direction by the movement of the other in an opposite direction, air ingressegress means opening into the lower chambers, and means including a valve cyclically operable to admit liquid from said source into the upper chamber of one cylinder to ll such chamber, open such filled chamber to atmosphere, and then introduce pressurized liquid into the other cylinder to dispense the liquid from such rst-lled upper chamber.

2. In a liquid cooling and dispensing system, a pair of separate cylinders each having a piston defining an upper chamber and a lower air chamber, a source of pressurized liquid for moving the pistons, coupling means between said pistons whereby one is moved in one direction by the movement of the other in an opposite direction, normally closed valve means connected to the lower air chambers operable to evacuate therefrom air at pressure above atmospheric pressure, and means for cooling the cylinders, comprising a conduit between the lower chambers, an expanded portion in said conduit, said expanded portion comprising a reservoir to enclose a liquid, and a metal cap on said reservoir, whereby when said pistons are moved a partial vacuum is built up in each respective lower chamber when its associated piston moves to expand such chamber tending to volatilize any liquid therein, and when said pistons are moved in the opposite direction a pressure is built up in said respective lower chamber thereby tending to form condensate which facilitates removal of heat from said cylinders.

3. A system as in claim 2 further comprising, in combination, adjustable excess vacuum relief valve and drain cock means, and a ll plug to said reservoir.

4. A system as in claim 3, said reservoir being centrally located in said conduit.

5. In a liquid cooling and dispensing system, in combination: -a rst cylinder, a first piston reciprocable therein and forming therein first and second expans-ible and contractible chambers for containing Vliquid and air respectively; a second cylinder, a second piston Vreciprocable in said second cylinder and forming therein third and fourth expansible and contractible chambers for containing air and hydraulic fluid respectively; a third cylinder, a third piston reciprocable in said third cylinder and forming therein fifth and sixth expansible and contractible chambers for containing hydraulic fluid and air respectively; a fourth cylinder, a fourth piston reciprocable in said fourth cylinder and forming therein seventh and eighth expansible and contractible chambers for containing air and yliquid respectively; means connecting said iirst and second pistons to operate `in spaced relationship to each other; 4means connecting said third andfourth pistons to operate ,in spaced relationship to each other; a duct connecting said fourth and Yrif-th chambers, a valve connected to said duct to bleed air therefrom, said fourth and chambers and said duct being tilled with hydraulic fluid, Y

and an adjustable flow-speed control valve in said duct for controlling the passage of hydraulic fluid therethrough; a by-pass tube connecting said second and seventh `air chambers, said by-pass tube comprising an enlarged portion forming a reservoir, said reservoir being provided with a fill plug and a drain cock; and means including conduits for liquid connected to said iirst and eighth chambers operable to fill said first chamber with liquid while discharging liquid from said eighth chamber, and vice versa, the quantity of hydraulic uid in said fourth and fifth chambers and duct determining the volume of liquid which may enter each of said first and eighth chambers.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein -a partial vacuum is created between said second and seventh chambers as they are expanded and contracted, and further comprising `an excess-vacuum relief valve in said reservoir.

7 A system as in claim 5, wherein said reservoir contains a quantity of low boiling point liquid and wherein said by-pass tube communicates with said reservoir above the level of said liquid.

8. A system as in claim 5, wherein the aforesaid elements are removably mounted on a metal plate, to -iit over and into a pre-cut hole in 'a bar or counter as a portable unit, and further comprising insulating Cowling means covering said cylinders.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein said last-named means comprises a four-way valve containing a movable core with two conduits therein, the first of said conduits connecting the source of pressurized liquid for lling said chambers as aforesaid, and the second of said conduits connecting the filled chamber to atmosphere as aforesaid, said vsecond conduit having a larger cross-section than said first conduit and effecting said atmospheric connection ahead of the movement of said pistons to dispense the liquid therethrough.

10. A system as in claim 9, and comprising a supply line leading from the source of pressurized liquid to said cyclically operable valve and further comprising a manually operable bleed valve connected -to said supply line for evacuating air and foam therefrom ahead of the connection thereof to said dispensing valve.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein the aforesaid elements are removably mounted on a metal plate, to lit over and into a pre-cut hole in a bar or counter as a portable unit, and further comprising insulating cowling means covering said cylinders.

12. A system as in claim 1, said last-named means including a discharge port in each upper chamber and a boss surrounding each said discharge port which boss extends into the upper chamber and makes contact with the piston to cut olf flow through said discharge port as dispensing therethrough is completed.

13. In a liquid cooling and dispensing system, a pair of separate cylinders each having a piston defining an upper chamber, a source of pressurized -liquid and means for connecting the same to fully expand one of said upper chambers as an integral and closed part of said source at the same pressure; said last-named means comprising a valve operable cyclically to cut off communication between said source and said liquid-filled upper chamber, -to open said liquid iilled chamber to conduit means discharging to atmosphere, and to then place -the other of said chambers in communication with the said source, thereby to dispense the depressurized liquid in the lirst filled chamber through said conduit means, said conduit means being of uniform cross-section and smooth throughout for minimum agitation of the liquid being dispensed therethrough.

i4. ln combination, two cylinders each having a piston therein defining a dispensing chamber and a cooling chamber, conduit means connecting said cooling chambers, a thermally conductive expanded portion in said 1conduit means, means interconnecting said pistons to 9 10 eiect expansion of each of said cooling chambers as the References Cited in the iile of this patent other is contracted, a source of pressurized liquid to be dispensed, and cyclically operable means for connecting UNITED STATES PATENTS said source to one of said dispensing chamber to ll the 1,733,635 Stork Oct. 29, 1929 same, for then opening said filled chamber for delivery 5 v2,549,851 Pope Apr. 24, 1951 therefrom, and for then connecting said source to the other of said dispensing chambers to effect delivery of FOREIGN PATENTS liquid from the so-opened dispensing chamber. 729,635 Great Britain May 11, 1955 

